Developing Resiliency Skills in Childhood

Developing Resiliency Skills in Childhood Arti Pasrija Issues in Young Child and Care Research Question: Is it important to teach and foster resilience skills in early years of childhood? Adversity or negative experiences are faced by all children in their childhood. For example, when a child is trying to learn a new skill on the first day of his/her school, a child maybe suffering from some medical condition or when a child faces a difficult task. In contrast to the above said, whatever are the sources of adverse circumstances or negative experiences, resilience skill makes children mentally tough, helps them to resist the urge to give up in the face of failures and makes them strong to cope with adverse situations (Pearce, 2011). Resilience underpins development of life-long barriers that promote well-being. It is not surprising then, resilience makes children competent to remain focused, composed , optimistic, and more capable to overcome challenges (Khanlou Wray, 2014). In addition, resilience power helps children to rebound and bounce back into the community, despite experiencing negative incidents or adversities (Prince-Embury Saklofske, 2013). Moreover, resilience construct has brought about a paradigm shift from deficit-based approach to a strength based approach and relies on young children’s strengths rather than emphasizing their deficits (Khanlou Wray, 2014). Furthermore , strength based approach fosters development of socio-emotional skills, crucial to children’s well being and enables them to have a sense of connectedness, belonging, self-awareness, and self identity in the social environment (Gilligan, 2008). It is essential therefore, to promote resilience in early childhood (Ca baj, McDonald, Tough, 2013). Mental health problems are experienced by about one in eight children in the world and these problems may continue when they are coupled with unfavourable psychosocial, educational, and health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood. Subsequently, preparing young children to be resilient is a vital step, conditions them to deal with challenges that lie ahead in adulthood. Therefore, resilient children when nurtured with coping skills in childhood are able to live a live with a sense of well-being, despite experiencing negative situations such as divorce, stress adversity or loss of job in adulthood (Cabaj et al., 2013). Evidence based research shows that practitioners must apply appropriate resilience intervention techniques, that are integrated with protective factors in children’s different aspects of everyday life (Cabaj et al., 2013). Moreover, practitioners must situate protective factors that support children’s social and emotional well being in their ecological soc ial environment (Daniel Wassell, 2002). Thus, protective factors support children to develop, repair, maintain, or regain their mental health, despite exposure to adversity (Pierce Zand, 2009). Poverty, violence, substance abuse, family discords are some common examples of potential vulnerabilities that children face in their early childhood. These children at risk may stand a remote chance of attaining their full potential as adults or may be incompetent in adulthood to establish healthy relationships with others if they are not prepared to be resilient (Zolkoski Bullock, 2012).Thus, I want to be a part of this initiative, prepare children to be resilient, help in creating social systems where children are provided with ample opportunities to develop their healthy cognitive and social-emotional skills (Cefai, 2008). This endeavor will help children to become more positive and motivated to cope with everyday challenges, overcome their failures, strength to face adversity and trauma , to be able to solve their problems, relate with others, and treat themselves and others with respect throughout their lifespan (Goldstein Brooks, 2013). References Cabaj, J. L., McDonald, S. W., Tough, S. C. (2013). Early childhood risk and resilience factors for behavioural and emotional problems in middle childhood. BMC pediatrics, 14 (1), 166-166. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-166 Cefai, C. (2008). Promoting resilience in the classroom: A guide to developing pupils emotional and cognitive skills. Philadelphia, PA; London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Daniel, B., Wassell, S. (2002). School years: Assessing and promoting resilience in vulnerable children. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Gilligan, R. (2008). Promoting resilience: BAAF. Goldstein, S., Brooks, R. B. (2013). Handbook of resilience in children (2nd Edition). Boston, MA: Springer US. Khanlou, N., Wray, R. (2014). A whole community approach toward child and youth resilience promotion: A review of resilience literature. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12 (1), 64-79. doi: 10.1007/s11469-013-9470-1 Pearce, C. (2011). A Short introduction to promoting resilience in children. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Pierce, K. J., Zand, D. H. (2009). Resilience in deaf children: Adaptation through emerging adulthood: Springer New York. Prince-Embury, S., Saklofske, D. H. (2013). Resilience in children, adolescents, and adults: Translating research into practice. New York: Springer New York. Zolkoski, S. M., Bullock, L. M. (2012). Resilience in children and youth: A review. Children and Youth Services Review, 34 (12), 2295-2303. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.08.009 Annotated Bibliography Cabaj, J. L., McDonald, S. W., Tough, S. C. (2013). Early childhood risk and resilience factors for behavioural and emotional problems in middle childhood. BMC pediatrics, 14 (1), 166-166. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-166 This article illustrates a recent study on mothers and children of an urban state called Calgary in Canada. They have been followed since prenatal period and surveyed regularly. The purpose of this research was to inform others about mental disorders prevalent in children that may be restored through early identification and use of protective factors. In addition, research evidence shows that protective factors integrated with interventions can be effective in reducing risk of poor outcomes for children. The research also clarifies that some youth who are entirely free from risk, have the privilege of being surrounded with protective factors. Thus, this research provides information and evidence that proves that protective factors do have a significant role to play in reducing the negative impacts on children and adolescents diagnosed with mental disorders or problem behaviours. Cefai, C. (2008). Promoting resilience in the classroom: A guide to developing pupils emotional and cognitive skills. Philadelphia, PA; London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Author has created a handbook that can help teachers and practitioners to nurture resilience in vulnerable children. The handbook proposes various ways that schools can implement to foster positive qualities such as social competence, problem solving skills, autonomy, and a sense of purpose in children needed to overcome negative experiences. The author has cited many case studies to make readers aware of classroom activities and strategies that can be used to foster cognitive and social-emotional competence. Moreover, the handbook explores a range of classroom practices that can be followed by educators to enhance resilience skills in children. The handbook is a valuable resource for educators and provides practical guidance on how to apply creative and practical possibilities in classroom practice to promote positive school climate that can help in preparing children to have resilient mindsets. Daniel, B., Wassell, S. (2002). School years: Assessing and promoting resilience in vulnerable children. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Authors have created an interesting workbook that can help practitioners to promote resilience in young children. The book explores protective factors and adverse environments and provides a framework of assessments at child’s all three ecological social levels. Moreover, the workbook also includes interventions that can be followed by early childhood practitioners while working with children at risk to boost their resilient power. Additionally, book suggests various ways of fostering resilience in children and encourages practitioners to place interventions in the child’s ecological framework. Furthermore, the book links assessments and interventions to child’s specific areas of life such as home, aptitudes, relationships with others, and friendships. This book is a very useful resource for practitioners as the authors have explicitly described techniques for application of assessments and interventions that can help in promoting positive behaviour in children. Gilligan, R. (2008). Promoting resilience: BAAF. The key theme that runs through this book is the growth of positive psychology and strength based perspective that allows a new way to look into human development and behaviour. This shift has given rise to resilience and sets the stage to think about children in need. Promotion of resilience dynamics allows children to feel loved, protected, acknowledged, complimented and encouraged. These skills allow children to conquer risk. The author in this book provides numerous ways that can help in promoting resilience in early childhood. This book inspires me to adopt the philosophy of resilience and explains the concept of resilience through many examples and suggestions. Goldstein, S., Brooks, R. B. (2013). Handbook of resilience in children (2nd Edition). Boston, MA: Springer US. This book has co-authors and provides readers with understanding and theories about the power of resilience an emerging field. The authors have examined the this emerging field of resilience and focused not only on individuals who overcame adverse circumstances, but also explore more about qualities of resilience that can be applied to all individuals, even though they may have not experienced any significant adverse situations. We have come to appreciate that the qualities of resilience examined scientifically in this volume can in fact protect and insulate not only children at risk, but all of us. This handbook is a valuable resource and aims to provide readers with resilient qualities that have been scientifically examined by the authors to protect not only children at risk but insulate all of us. Moreover, the handbook has been successful in describing resilient qualities that can be natured by parents and educators to shape up children’s future. Khanlou, N., Wray, R. (2014). A whole community approach toward child and youth resilience promotion: A review of resilience Literature. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 12 (1), 64-79. doi: 10.1007/s11469-013-9470-1 This is a literature review and the authors conducted the research in three steps. They reviewed peer published articles since the year 2000, review of grey literature and quasi-realist synthesis of evidence to bring out reliable findings. Child and youth resilience were the focus of the literature review and was conducted on three perspectives; 1) whether interventions can help in building resilience; 2) effects of crisis among different populations; and, 3) indicators that prove positive effects of resilience interventions on health and social outcomes. The review includes definitions and aspects of resilience, relationships of resilience with mental health and social reactions, and provides suggestions to include family, and environmental factors while promoting resilience with the help of interventions. I was able to have a clear understanding of resilience construct, as the information was presented in a very well-defined and clear. Moreover, the knowledge gained through this re view will be useful in my practice later. Pearce, C. (2011). A Short introduction to promoting Resilience in children. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This book seeks to explain what resilience is and how it can be fostered in children. It also discusses about building resilience in children, which is a universal concern for parents, care- givers, and educators and everyone wants to shield and protect children from physical and emotional distress. The book is supported with many examples and detailed explanation of nurturing resilience in children and also mentions key factors of resilience such as biological, psychological, and environmental aspects that influence resilience. Additionally, reader is also able get lot of clarity on the interaction and implications of these factors. Moreover, author has presented some strategies that allow the reader to understand how to foster resilience in children and can encourage them to increase their coping capacity with adversity. Moreover, this is a helpful resource for parents, care givers, and educators to have an overview, insight, and awareness, as they all play a critical role in promo ting resilience in children. Pierce, K. J., Zand, D. H. (2009). Resilience in deaf children: Adaptation through emerging adulthood: Springer New York. In this book, the contributing authors highlight family system as a focal point that nurtures resilience for a deaf individual. The book lays its foundation on evidence based research, firmly believes that positive and supportive family are the key factors that help in developing resilience for deaf children. In addition, authors have offered valuable information and opportunities to parents, children, teachers, and other professionals in the community that can support fostering of resilience in deaf children and the ability to handle stressful events. This book provides refreshing lens to enable readers to relook at the positive attributes strengths, and capabilities of deaf children that can help in nurturing resilience in their early phase of life. Moreover, the book hopes that people realize that deaf also can contribute to the society. Prince-Embury, S., Saklofske, D. H. (2013). Resilience in children, adolescents, and adults: Translating research into practice. New York: Springer New York. Resilience in Children, Adolescents, and Adults This book acknowledges the need to re-establish the link between theory, assessments, interventions assessments, and outcomes that can give a firm experimental base to resilience construct. This will result in more practical applications of effective assessments and interventions. The book has provided readers with easy to understand and apply assessment tools and interventions for diverse population and perspectives. Moreover, the book has shared case studies with readers that exhibit practical applications of resilience interventions and interpretations of assessments. As the book is embedded in the context of disaster and enlightens the readers about cultural considerations and age-appropriate interventions that are most needed for all the professionals in the field of psychology to have a strength-based practice. Zolkoski, S. M., Bullock, L. M. (2012). Resilience in children and youth: A review. Children and Youth Services Review, 34 (12), 2295-2303. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2012.08.009 This article is based on a literature review which gives readers an overview of longitudinal studies dating back to the 1970s to the present on children born in high-risk conditions. The research findings confirm that often children at risk stand remote chances of attaining their full potential in adulthood. These individuals may be incapable of developing social competence. However, the findings also showed that some of youth in spite of growing up in high-risk environments, did develop social competence and were able to lead successful lives. These young adults are considered to be resilient and have strength gained from protective factors that help them to overcome adversity and succeed in life. The review makes it easy for the reader to understand more about environmental factors that situate children and youth at-risk as well as what protective factors can be fostered to build resilience in children. In addition, the research recommends readers to develop resilient building interventions in children’s context, crucial for their psychosocial development and research knowledge can prove to be beneficial for educators to improve and build positive resili ent populations.

Academic performance of disabled students and their general education peers Essay

Calls for the evolution of the educational system to maintain an inclusive program for mentally, financially and physically disabled students have been supported by the arguments that inclusion will greatly benefit the academic and social performance of children with disabilities. This is true since academic learning is enhanced when a program expecting higher output and reinforcing higher standards exists for students. These opportunities allow them to work and study harder as it exposes them to what many believe are normal real-life standards. Friendly and Lero (1993) stress that a motivation to keep up and progress without outside assistance is a driving force of enhancing performance. They also note that the labels in homogeneous or ability groupings negatively affect student potential. Contrastingly, although the effects of the inclusive system of education are favorable for non-general students, Brackett (1994) stresses that the opposite might take effect for general education students. These children might experience boredom due to the considerations given to disabled students in terms of pace and activities. Special or disabled children may also experience frustration as they try to keep up with the normal learning pace in a heterogeneous mix of students. Despite these contentions, several studies also note the positive effects of inclusion to the academic performance of both general education children and special needs education students. Hines and Johnston (1997) reported that disabled students in an inclusive set up showed academic progress and performance and improved their behavior as well. Schattman and Benay (1992) attribute this to the wide exposure of the disabled children, in an inclusive set up, to creative teachers and the nature of the inclusion strategies to expose the children to social interactions with other students. The marks and learning abilities of disabled students on specific subjects were also positively affected by being in inclusive classroom situations (Barbetta et al, 1991). The effect of inclusion to regular classroom students has been extensively studied and Staub and Peck (1995) list the general outcomes of the exposure of this group to this new learning environment. It has been noted that regular class students, after being exposed to an inclusive situation, become more aware of existence of human diversity and have reduced fear of human differences. They have more social interactions which results in a keener awareness of self knowledge. In addition, they also learned to develop their personal principles at an early age and the increased frequency of social relationships allowed them to create more friends. Hollowood et al. (1994) also answers a thriving concern about the imbalance of time allotment for students by teachers when exposed to an inclusive environment. It has been observed that the presence of special needs students in a class does not interfere with the allocated time of teachers to regular class students. And although, interruptions have been observed in some cases, the downtime did not significantly alter the average instruction hours when compared to general education classes. Similarly, in a study of primary and secondary schools that adopted inclusion, Idol (2006) reports that in a four-year study of four elementary and secondary schools, most students are generally not affected by the presence of students with disabilities in their classes. Statistics on these schools show that the elementary students surveyed registered a 68% approval rating on student performance and the respective elementary and secondary students show a 36% and 24% rating that student performance in inclusive situations was higher. 32% and 34% of elementary and secondary students also agree that academic abilities remained constant. In the four elementary schools considered, only 6% of the educators responded that there were negative reactions brought out by the presence of disabled students in class, while the statistics in the secondary schools surveyed did not vary much at 8%. The teachers also reported that a larger chunk (> 50% ) of the students increased or retained their statewide test scores. Requirements for an effective strategy Dugan et al. (1995) reviewed several studies which have been published regarding the methods and strategies used in inclusive education. According to this paper, improved academic performance is assured (Kamps et al. , 1992; Madden and Slavin, 1983; Noonan & Hemphill, 1984; Shores et al. , 1993; Stainback et al. , 1981) if the program consists of a 1. method to encourage and guide interaction among students with disabilities and their peers; 2. scheme where teachers employ adaptive measures of instruction for students with disabilities; 3. program of study that enjoins both disabled and normal children to equally participate in activities; and 4. training to improve the social interactions and abilities of a child that prepares him for the real world environment. One aspect of inclusive education that employed cooperative learning groups is also effective in enhancing the performance of students. Johnson et al (1990) notes that cooperative learning results in improved academic performance of children from different cognitive levels to be in a heterogeneous educational environment that promotes the mediation of groups for maximal learning. Inclusive education programs and strategies like the cross-age tutoring also resulted in improved performance of both students with and without disabilities (Barbetta et al. , 1991) and increased the reading and comprehension abilities of both normal children and children with autism (Kamps et al., 1994). Kamps et al (1994) also note that because of the drastic improvement in the confidence of the children in a cooperative learning set up, the time for interactions and social activities between children with autism and their peers also increased and adds to their improved learning abilities. According to Dugan et al (1995) cooperative learning groups improved student interaction through increased frequency of social activities. The effectivity of student learning also increased due to tutoring events and research activities. Hawkins et al (2001) explained that early social interactions between children create a deeper bond that acts as a defense for behavioral problems and, thus, strengthens the relationships of students. Strategies for improved academic performance Academic performance in an inclusive set up uses contemporary schemes in order to teach the lessons to students. Learning is boosted through techniques such as teams games tournaments or TGT, which allows the teacher to teach the lessons to students through games. The teams cooperate and learn from other group members by peer tutoring in order to increase their chances of winning in the tournaments. Another scheme called student teams and academic divisions or STAD allows individual members of a team to score points by adding their individual written scores, like in a quiz for example, to the total accumulated team points (Slavin, 1990). Another inclusion strategy that shows very promising results in increasing the academic fervor of children involves the use of class wide peer tutoring (CWPT). In a study of the performance of heterogeneously grouped children under the subject of reading and reading comprehension, CWPT was observed to increase the ability of students to read and pronounce words accurately and answer reading comprehension questions correctly. The technique was also found to improve the cognitive skills of elementary students with autism. It was also a tool for social interaction and learning with their classmates and showed better reading proficiencies for most students because of the relative ease in adapting this program to a normal classroom set up (Kamps et al.,1994). CWPT can also be incorporated in a team games tournament (TGT) scheme and are collectively referred to as class wide student tutoring teams (CSTT). This method employs tutoring and tests individual learning progress by competitions where individual scores comprise team scores. Reading can also be taught to elementary students through a cooperative integrated reading and composition technique or CIRC. In this strategy, students are paired and are allowed to read stories to each other while practicing and honing their reading abilities (Jenkins et al., 1991). Johnson et al (1984) reports that role playing is also a learning strategy to be employed, this technique, called circles of learning, employs group dynamics and allows students to complete assigned tasks and evaluate their performance through worksheets. In addition, the competitive atmosphere is reduced because of the nature of the activity. These techniques have been shown to improve the academic performance of a heterogeneous mix of students with different baseline aptitudes. The case of employing inclusion to disabled children and high-level students with autism can also be employed to children who are sickly, obese or those with high risks of cardiovascular diseases. Van Sluijs et al. (2007) have observed that the method of inclusion to obese adolescents shows strong evidence of improvement and increased physical activity. The effective strategies employed actively involve the school, the community and the student’s family in order to improve the physical disposition of the individuals in the study. Studies show that a key factor in the improvement of students in inclusive setups is the competency of educators handling the classes. However, every teacher has his own techniques, experiences and teaching strategies that he has developed over time. This difference in experience is especially large between teachers who handle exclusively special classes for disabled students and those who handle general education. Thus, in an inclusive setting, in order to expand the exposure of students to different teachers, collaborative teaching has been developed as a strategy for effective learning. This method is a big deviation from the previous pull-out system for partial inclusive settings. In co-teaching, both teachers complement and co-teach both disabled students and their peers (Gerber and Popp, 2000). Rea et al (2002), in a study on the teaching practices of Enterprise Middle School which handles grade school students at levels 6 to 8, show that co-teaching is an effective strategy for educating students. This mechanism involves daily class rotations with different teachers. Co-teaching also requires careful and synchronized planning on the part of the educators. Teachers actively and regularly discuss their activities and lessons and share methods of evaluating the progress of students. This way, different instructional objectives are met although by different individuals. This is necessary to coordinate and pace teachers in their work and lessons with their students as well as to share information on student development. Different schemes characterize the co-teaching method. Rea et al (2002) note that interactive teaching or taking turns observing and lecturing may be employed. The class may also be divided for parallel sessions or one teacher may be assigned for catch-up classes for some students. Nonetheless, any form taken by the co-teaching scheme aims to provide for the needs of the children, supplied variation in teaching techniques, and was seen as a healthy environment for student growth and learning. Many researchers have expressed support to the principle of including disabled students in general education practice. Among them, Villa et al. (1996) have observed that educators preferred teaching disabled students along with their non-disabled peers. This factor may have contributed to the increased academic progress of students within the inclusive education set up. On the other hand, Thousand and Villa (2000) stressed that teachers are not the only major contributing factor to student progress. In fact, they highlight the observation that inter-student relationships while in the confines of the classroom play a big role during learning, emotional and social development. As the needs of the children in an inclusive set up are congruent to the skill that must be possessed by the educators handling the classes, teacher training (Porter, 2001) is an essential part of the process that makes an inclusive set up work. Daniel and King (1997) refer to this skill as training for inclusionary practices and is a characteristic of teachers that must be developed in order to function effectively in an educational system following heterogeneous groupings. It should, therefore, be apparent that these special skills allow educators to adapt to the wide needs of different types of students and allow them to be creative in forming strategies for an efficient and effective learning experience for both disabled students and their peers. However, the great demands of the inclusive educational practice oftentimes result in work pressure among teaching personnel. For example, studies on all elementary physical education instructors from Israel show that the episodes of burnout in faculty members are related to the number of special or disabled students in their classes and the amount of assistance they get conducting these classes (Fejgin et al. , 2005). This relates the demanding work that is put in by the educators in order to make an inclusive program work. This study also stresses the chief role played by government support in the educational system, where episodes of teacher burnout are also dictated by poor quality of the workplace and inadequacy of the institution to provide sports facilities for the needs of the students, especially the disabled or special cases. Despite episodes of burnout, most teachers have expressed their support for inclusion as an appropriate program to teach disabled children (Idol, 2006) the statistics is expected to improve if more educational personnel were available to answer to the needs of all students. The necessity for improved and evolving programs that would answer the needs of students in inclusion also requires the involvement of many organizations, individuals and different types of educators, resulting in interdisciplinary interactions to improve current conditions (Robertson and Valentine, 1998). This brings about an atmosphere of community and exposes the teaching skills of effective teachers and allows room for growth and improvement. Equally important to the instructors are the provision of adequate health care safety facilities for different types of students which should be provided by the government and their policy makers. It is consequently very crucial that an educational program should be backed-up by community and policy driven education reform for a successful advocacy. Porter (2001) expresses that there is a need for legislators who understand that an inclusive community school is a method of reform that should be supported. For cases of students with severe autism and retardation, however, further studies both on the effective procedures that should be employed and on the qualitative measures of investigating the effects of peer-mediated activities and cooperative learning also require continuous evaluation (Kamps et al. , 1994). Nonetheless, Kamps and Carta (1989) note that strategies are successful if these improve or maintain the skills of non disabled students without compromising the learning of their disabled peers.

Personality Development Essay

Teacher’s Mental Health in relation to Personality Development of Students AbstractPurnima Sood Bhushan This study is aimed at finding the effect of teacher’s mental health on the personality development of students. The study concludes that the teachers with good mental health induce more dominantly the extrovert trait of personality whereas in the case of induce teachers with ill mental health; Psychotic and neurotic traits of personality d among the students. The educationists all over the worlds are grappled with one central and all encompassing question society of tomorrow †. — â€Å" What kind or type of education is required for what kind of Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, President of India from 2002 during a talk on the teacher’s day in 2003, had stated â€Å"2007, A student spends 25,000 hours in the campus. The school mus t have the best of teachers who have the ability to teach, love teaching and build moral qualities .† The development of personality is one of the most important and fascinating areas in an individual’s life. There are certain questions that strike our mind — ‘What have been the major influences on personality development?’ ‘What are the factors affecting the development of a child?’ In what direction will the personality develop if the person or individual receives certain kind of opportunities or setbacks; p articular kind of behavior; definite choices that it makes? The real issue in education: to see that when the students leave the school they are well established.

How a Penny Can Make Wine Smell and Taste Better

Before you throw out that bottle of funky-smelling wine, try a simple chemistry life hack to fix it. Its super easy and all you need is a penny! How to Fix Smelly Wine With a Penny First, find a penny. Clean it up by rinsing it off and polishing off any grime.Pour yourself a glass of wine.Drop in the clean penny and swirl it around in the glass.Remove the penny. You dont want to accidentally swallow it!Now, inhale the improved aroma and drink the wine.Drink more wine. Youre so clever, youve earned it. How the Penny Trick Works Wine can smell stinky because it contains sulfur compounds called thiols. A burnt rubber odor comes from a thiol called ethyl mercaptan. Eau de rotten eggs comes from hydrogen sulfide. If your wine smells like someone put out a match in it, thats from a thiol named methyl mercaptan. The thiols are in the wine as a natural consequence of  grape fermentation. During fermentation, the sugars from the fruit juice undergo reduction, which involves the loss of oxygen. In stale, old wine or some cheap wine, the process kicks into overdrive, resulting in so much thiol the wine becomes unpalatable. Heres where the penny comes to the rescue. While pennies are mostly zinc, the outer shell contains copper. The copper reacts with thiols to produce copper sulfide, which is odorless. Since the senses of smell and taste are connected, removing the stench dramatically improves both the aroma and perceived flavor of the wine. Save Your Wine With Silver Looking for a classier way to fix your wine? You can get the same deodorizing effect by stirring your wine with a silver spoon. If you dont have a silver spoon, try a sterling silver ring. Just remember to remove it before imbibing.